2018 Piper PA-31 Accident Near Mount Rae, British Columbia (C-FNCI)

Incident Overview and Flight Details On August 1, 2018, an Aries Aviation International Piper PA-31, registration C-FNCI (serial number 31-8112007), was conducting survey work near Penticton, British Columbia. After completing two hours of work, the aircraft departed Penticton Airport (CYYF) on an instrument flight rules flight plan to Calgary/Springbank Airport (CYBW), Alberta, at 15,000 feet above sea level. The pilot and a survey technician were on board. As the aircraft approached CYBW, air traffic control sequenced it for arrival, requesting a speed reduction to 150 knots indicated airspeed and a descent to 13,000 feet. At this point, the right engine began operating at a lower power setting than the left. Approximately 90 seconds later, at 13,500 feet, the aircraft departed controlled flight and collided with terrain near the summit of Mount Rae at 1336 Mountain Daylight Time. A brief impact explosion and fire occurred. Both occupants sustained fatal injuries. The Canadian Mission Control Centre received a 406 MHz emergency locator transmitter signal and notified the Trenton Joint Rescue Coordination Centre. Search and rescue arrived on site about one hour after the accident.